Both the solar and lunar calendars are used to
establish the Hindu ritual year.
There are two indigenous Hindu solar year estimates, both of
which feature twelve solar months, in addition to the Gregorian calendar and
the common era.
These months correlate to the twelve zodiac signs in
northern India, and they vary as the sun goes through them.
The year starts when the sun enters Aries, as it does in the
Western zodiac, albeit in Indian astrology, this shift occurs around April 14,
rather than March 21, as it does in Euro-American astrology.
A similar solar calendar exists in southern India, with
names derived from the names of certain nakshatras or lunar asterisms.
Apart from the solar months, the solar year is split into
two parts depending on the sun's movement: the Uttarayana for when the sun is
travelling north and the Dakshinayana for when the sun is going south.
On Makara Sankranti, January 14, the sun starts its
northward trip, which is considered the more auspicious period; six months
later, on Karka Sankranti, July 14, the sun begins its southbound journey,
which is considered the less auspicious time.
The lunar calendar, which has twelve lunar months, is far more important for religious purposes:
- Chaitra (March–April),
- Baisakh (April–May),
- Jyeshth (May–June),
- Ashadh (June–July),
- Shravan (July–August),
- Bhadrapada (August–September),
- Ashvin (September–October),
- Kartik (October–November),
- Margashirsha (November–December),
- Paush (December–January),
- Magh (January–February),
The calendar in northern India normally starts on the
first day of the brilliant half of Chaitra, and ends on the first day of the
dark half of the same month.
The festivals designated by this lunar calendar happen at
various times each year in relation to the solar calendar since these lunar
months are based on the phases of the moon (ending with the full moon in
northern India and the new moon in southern India).
Because the twelve lunar months take around 354 solar days
to complete, each lunar year starts eleven days sooner than the previous one.
This mismatch is remedied every 212 years by the insertion
of an additional lunar month, known as the intercalary month, which brings the
solar and lunar calendars into broad agreement.
The intercalary month is added to each lunar month during
which the sun does not enter a new zodiac sign, allowing it to fall in any
month of the year.
Although the solar calendar is less significant in daily
life, it aids in maintaining the basic correlation between the lunar calendar
and the periodic festivals linked with it.
The three primary seasons (hot, monsoon, and cool) have
strong linkages with the festival calendar, at least in northern India.
The chilly season, from October and February, is the most
ritually busy period; in many locations, this is also the time after the
harvest, when many people have more time and money to devote to religious
observances.
Many ceremonies are related with heat in the hot season, but
the rainy season, as a period of hazard, is often associated with rites of
protection.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
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